for dear life

Idioms

Also, for one's life. Desperately, urgently, so as to save one's life. For example, When the boat capsized, I hung on for dear life, or With the dogs chasing them they ran for their lives, or She wanted that vase but I saw it first and hung on to it for dear life. These expressions are sometimes hyperbolic (that is, one's life may not actually be in danger). The first dates from the mid-1800s, the variant from the first half of the 1600s. Also see for the life of one.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

White-collar workers are hanging onto their jobs for dear life, spooked by high-profile layoff announcements, the rise of AI and an unforgiving job market for the unemployed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 17, 2025

Saylor has continually urged investors to “HODL,” or hold on for dear life, an initialism reminding Bitcoin fans to cling to their digital assets for the long term.

From Barron's • Nov. 24, 2025

Amanjot had held her nerve, and the catch for dear life.

From BBC • Nov. 3, 2025

Stock market investors have shown every sign of hanging on for dear life as the on-again-off-again tariffs have unfolded.

From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2025

He holds on to me for dear life.

From "Ninth Ward" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023